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Grants boost 'Click it or Ticket' enforcement over Memorial Day holida

MONTGOMERY, AL- Gov. Robert Bentley has
awarded nine grants to support the "Click It or Ticket" traffic safety campaign
now underway. The effort continues over the Memorial Day weekend through
Sunday, June 2.

Law enforcement agencies across the state are working overtime to enforce
Alabama's seat belt laws and remove dangerous drivers from the roadways as part
of the enforcement campaign. The grants, totaling $200,000, pay overtime for
officers to conduct seat-belt safety checkpoints and extra patrols in areas
where a high number of vehicle crashes have occurred.

Jim Byard Jr., director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community
Affairs, said the goal of the campaign is to save lives and reduce injuries.
"The extra patrols and increased visibility of law enforcement officers should
remind motorists that seat belts and safe driving are especially critical
during major holidays," Byard said.

Autauga Co. manhunt ends with suspect's capture

AUTAUGA CO., AL (WSFA)- The man at the center of an Autauga County manhunt in January, and again in May, was taken into custody late Thursday night by authorities.

Autauga County Chief Deputy Joe Sedinger confirms that suspect David Hunter was captured near County Road 68 and Interstate 65.

Wednesday, deputies attempted to serve a robbery warrant at a residence off of Hwy. 31 early, but deputies noticed a man jump out of a window at that residence and take off running. That man turned out to be Hunter, the same Hunter wanted in connection with a January domestic violence and police chase incident.

Prattville woman arrested for multiple counts of home mortgage fraud and theft

Prattville woman arrested for multiple counts of home mortgage fraud and theft

 

(MONTGOMERY)--Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest Tuesday of a Prattville woman for four counts of residential mortgage fraud, two counts of first-degree theft and two counts of first degree theft by deception.  Lynda Branch, 59, formerly operated Professional Closing and Title LLC, doing business in Prattville as Pro Close.  Branch was arrested by the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. 

Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to an Autauga County grand jury on May 8, resulting in Branch’s indictment on May 10.  Specifically, the indictment charges:

CrimeStoppers offering cash reward to find Autauga County chase suspect

AUTAUGA CO., AL (WSFA)- A manhunt was initiated (for a second time) in Autauga county Wednesday after authorities showed up at a home to serve a robbery warrant and ran into the man wanted in connection with a January police chase.

The search was suspended overnight, but authorities are back on scene now.

According to Autauga County Chief Deputy Joe Sedinger, deputies attempted to serve a robbery warrant at a residence off of Hwy. 31 early Wednesday afternoon. 

Deputies noticed a man jump out of a window at that residence and take off running. That man is the same person wanted in connection with a January domestic violence and police chase incident.

Prattville draft beer legislation waits for bill's signature

PRATTVILLE, AL (WSFA)- From one restaurant to
another, there's cautious optimism that draft beer is about to arrive in Prattville.

House bill 239 passed
Monday in the state legislature and Governor Robert Bentley is expected to sign
the bill this week.

Fox's Pizza Den just
received its liquor license this week to sell regular beer. Now it's making
plans to sell draft beer.

"We fully expect
business to increase by 50% once we get it," said Assistant Manager Jackie
Moore.

Of course all of this is
contingent upon the governor signing it this week. Assuming that happens then
the Prattville City Council is expected to 'act quickly' on the matter during
its regular council meeting on June 4th.

"Just two weeks ago
I got a call from a commercial realtor wanting to know the status of the
bill," said Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie.

Senate passes CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill

Senate passes CAP Congressional Gold Medal bill

 

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – A bill to honor Civil Air Patrol’s World War II veterans with a Congressional Gold Medal passed the U.S. Senate Monday night under unanimous consent after gaining the necessary co-sponsors needed for consideration.

The bill, S. 309, recognizes the contributions of CAP’s pilots and other members who served during the war. Predating the U.S. Air Force, CAP’s services included flying combat and humanitarian missions under hazardous conditions.

Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, CAP’s national commander, credited members' and other supporters' hard work and expressed his thanks not only to leaders throughout the organization but also to the 82 senators -- 15 more than the minimum needed -- who have signed on as co-sponsors for S. 309.

Carr, reports to the CAP Board of Governors, which consists of 11 members representing the organization, the U.S. Air Force and private industry.

Severe weather school plan: Superintendents share insight

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- As rescue efforts continue in Oklahoma, school administrators closer to home have safety top of mind.

Everyone remembers the tragic events in Enterprise, Alabama where a tornado killed eight students inside Enterprise High School and a nearby resident.

That storm raises the question: are students safer at home or in the school building?

"They're safer at home," says mother, Jessica Taylor.

Taylor nor her friend Cindy Odom leave their kids' safety to the school system.

"My mother always checked us out when it came bad weather, so it's something I've always done."

Taylor admits her kids don't go to school if severe weather is coming. And for Odom, the storms are personal.

"My brother-in-law was in the tornados in Tuscaloosa and that really hit home with me. So really ever since then I've been a lot more aware of the weather," says Odom.